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L 


Lady Corrigan’s 
Love Match 

/ 

BY 

CHARLES STUART WELLES 

AUTHOR OF 

“The EUwoods” “The Lute and Lays / 9 “The 
Millennium /* “The Still , Small Voice / 9 
“The Princess of Hearts," 
and other works. 


Price, 25 cents or One Shilling 


PUBLISHED BY 

i Fowler & Co., Ludgate Circus, London, E. C. 
The Kane Press, 141 West 36TH St,, New York 

1917 














Lady Corrigan’s Love Match 



Lady Corrigan’s 
Love Match 


BY 


CHARLES STUART WELLES 


AUTHOR OF 


“The Ellwoods /* “The Lute and Lays/* “ The 
Millennium,” “The Still, Small Voice/* 
“The Princess of Hearts/* 
and other works. 


Price, 25 cents or One Shilling 


PUBLISHED BY 

Fowler & Co., Ludgate Circus, London, E. C. 
The Kane Press, 141 West 36TH St., New York 


1917 








*, * ; • r 




, V 

L 




Copyright Secured in England 

AND IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

By CHARLES STUART WELLES, M. D. 

[all rights reserved] 





i >8f 


SEP -I 1917 

-A r-; 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER. PAGE. 

I. A Chance Acquaintance 5 

II. The Mascot 9 

III. The Heavenly Pink Rose 13 

IV. The Circle 19 

V. The Engagement 25 

VI. The Honeymoon 31 

VII. Oxford 39 

VIII. Stratford on Avon 47 

IX. Glastonbury Abbey 53 

X. Mediumship 57 

XI. The Basinette 61 

XII. Spiritual Survival 65 


V 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH. 

By Charles Stuart Welles, M.D. 

I. 

A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE. 

It was merely an accidental acquaintance, and yet — 
Annie is sitting at my side, wondering what I am going to 
write now. 

I tell her it is about herself. 

“But I was not an accidental acquaintance, I met you 
formally at Lady Corrigan’s.” 

“Not really the first time, Annie, dear.” 

“Why, what do you mean?” 

“Shall I tell you how you first touched me with vour toe 
to attract my attention? And it did so. I have ne~er for- 
gotten it. If my ankle-bone had not surrendered to superior 
force, I would have arisen in my might and — given you my 
seat.” 

“Well, dearie, tell me the rest of it, I am awfully inter- 
ested. I think I know what is coming.” 

“Yes, darling, I stopped a moment to quiet my pain and — 
you lost the seat, but gained a husband. I just sat it out and 
was only sufficiently recovered to follow you home. That is 
how I discovered that you were a connection of Lady Cor- 
rigan.” 


5 


6 LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 

“Do you know, Willy, it passed through my mind that 
you had on a quizzical expression, as though you and Auntie 
had something between you when we met there.” 

“Yes, Lady Corrigan was always my friend, and we had 
had a secret talk ” 

“Well, go on with the story. You are absolutely danger- 
ous. How am I to know, if you are capable of keeping a 
secret from me like that, what dastardly thing you have got 
up your sleeve, to spring on me in the future?” 

“Tush, Annie, it is you who are keeping the secrets.” 

“Why, what do you mean? I haven’t any secrets from 
you, Wilbur.” 

“No, not yesterday, when you alighted from the taxi-cab 
on New Bond Street? — You haven’t told me of the episode 
of the gentleman who opened the door for you and raised his 
hat on departing.” 

“Why, I didn’t know him.” 

“Well, I can’t blame him, when I myself followed you 
home, can I?” 

“I should think not, Wilbur?” 

“This is getting highly interesting. First you call me 
dearie, then Willy, then a cold Wilbur. Come, now, let us 
make up, and you tell me what you really thought of me at 
Lady Corrigan’s?” 

“Oh, darling, I thought you were awfully nice, and — shall 
T admit it? — I thought you would make quite an ideal hus- 
band. There, now, are you satisfied, dearest?” 


A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE 7 

“Not until you have actually kissed me, darling Annie.” 

“There, now, tell me what are you going to write next?” 

“Next? Let me see. Why, we have got as far as the 
Bus, haven’t we? Well — about yourself, after escorting you, 
as it were, to No. 19 Elliots Grove, and afterwards finding 
by the Blue Book that you were connections of the Corri- 
gans, I called on Lady Corrigan and asked her who might 
be the dainty young lady with the penchant for tailor-made 
habits of light blue material, a connection of hers?” 

“Well, go on.” 

“Now, this is in confidence ” 

“Certainly. She said I was Annie, her niece, and that we 
must meet ” 

“ ‘Of course,’ I said, and then she told me she thought I 
had met Annie there.” 

“I said, ‘Not yet,’ and explained the little circumstance of 
your committing an assault upon me in the Bus and how I 
followed you home with a view of having you summoned. 
But she averred that it would not be necessary. She was 
sure that you would be glad to apologize, if I would only 
give you a fair chance. So you see how I accomplished the 
flank movement on you at her house that afternoon.” 

“Oh, the dragon ! Instead of confiding in me, she has 
simply been conspiring with you, a perfect stranger!” 

“No, Annie, dear, she has been for a long time my dearest 
confidant. She has been instructing me in mediumship and 
she says that I am progressing famously, and that the Spirit 
World has high hopes of my becoming a spirit myself some 


8 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


day. We must organize a class or circle, for you ought to 
know, Annie, that your dear Aunt is a medium of the first 
order.” 

“But Wilbur, she is too partial to you, and I fear that 
she won’t even give poor Annie a look in. Anyway, she is 
a minx, to cause me to come all the way from Hampstead 
to call upon a mere man.” 

“Tut, tut,” was all that I could get in, as Annie flew 
out of the library. 


II. 


THE MASCOT. 

Now that I have launched the story of Annie, query, 
shall I write it in collaboration with her, or shall I write 
it apart from Annie, taking Lady Corrigan into my confi- 
dence? — Yes, that’s the thing to do, she being so in sym- 
pathy with me and with the theme oi my story. Dear Lady 
Corrigan can also bring me into touch with the Spirit 
World, when I may need her advice. Dear Spirits, how 
sympathetic you are with anything that pertains to the higher 
thought! I can myself feel your generous presence with me 
now, and my only regret is that I may not be able to intro- 
duce your gentle influence into my work. 

Speaking to Lady Corrigan about it, she only says: Dear 
Boy, don’t you worry about them. The more you let your- 
self get excited, the less they can do for you. Keep an open 
mind and they will impress you the more easily. Above all, 
keep Annie in your mind. 

“She is your love and you will always need her love to ani- 
mate you. Write as you would like her to read it. So, let 
her see each Chapter as you finish it, and you may think well 
of her criticism.” When I told Lady Corrigan of my former 
vision of Annie, and then how astounded I was to feel her 
standing before me, Lady Corrigan simply said: “All right, 

9 


10 LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 

Wilbur, I have seen that you were developing wonderfully. 
Don’t you remember at our last sitting you heard the voice 
saying ‘Annie, Annie?’ I knew that you had received a real 
clairaudient impression. You asked if there had been any 
one in the room. Listen, the voice is saying, ‘these twain 
shall be made one flesh.’ Now, we have found Annie, and it 
is up to you to find yourself. You are yourself; and I should 
say that this is the rounding out of your life. Tell me just 
how Annie seemed to you when you sensed that she stood 
before you.” 

“I barely glanced up at her and scarcely saw her, but 
rather felt her near me. The Bus was very crowded and 
she had to brace herself against my knee, as though she had 
a right of ownership. I could only glance up at her and she 
seemed like a radiant spirit. — The delicate, peach-like bloom 
on her cheek, the stronger red of her lips, a little open, with 
perfect white teeth showing; blue eyes and golden brown 
hair ; when she spoke to her friend standing facing her. But, 
oh, the animation of Annie’s profile. I knew her directly as 
the personification of my vision. You know I told you about 
it at the time and you said: ‘That is probably your fate: 
yes she is, Wilbur.’ ” 

“I am so glad. I love you both. You, because I have 
succeeded in your Psychic development, and Annie, being so 
psychic, has always been very dear to me. Now, Wilbur, 
I will tell you something. The day after you met here, 
Annie came bouncing in and said: ‘Aunt Eileen, what do 
you think of him? Why, he had such a psychological effect 
upon me, that, as the crowd passed out of the Bus, I sat 


THE MASCOT 


11 


down directly opposite him and looked at him. He blushed. 
Fancy, a man blushing like a girl! I saw that he liked me, 
and the consciousness of this thought made me very happy. 
I am sure he read it in my eyes, for he looked at me again 
and again, to read me, and when we got to the corner of 
my street, he followed me out and directly to the house. But 
he passed on steadily, so as not to attract attention, like a 
perfect gentleman, as he is. Don’t you think? Then, Auntie, 
he seems to have taken possession of me, even of my thoughts, 
for I can think of nothing, but that he is connected with it. 
What does it mean? Get some impression for me, Auntie, 
dear, or I shall go crazy. Perhaps you will find me sitting 
on his doorstep — if you don’t put me under some kind of 
restraint.’ 

“ ‘Yes, dear Annie, you are in love. You don’t need any 
Clairvoyant to tell you that, nor him either. He is the tall 
gentleman with the antique ring. You are very stupid not 
to have observed that. And I will tell you a secret also, as 
I have told him. For he wanted to know what was the mat- 
ter with you, Annie. There is only one remedy for you both. 
That is each other. When will you both come to dinner? 
To-night? All right, I will telephone.’ Blessed are the poor 
who have telephones handy.” 

“So, that is why we had dinner so quickly after our meet- 
ing. Dear Lady Corrigan, you are a wonder. You are that 
kind of a medium that can not only sense conditions, but 
can act upon them. Now when can we dine again together 
and go to the theatre, to-night? Well, for heaven’s sake, 
telephone again.” So, you see, kind reader, there was method 


12 LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 

in my madness, choosing dear Lady Corrigan for our Mascot. 

Annie herself replied to the telephone call and having an 
engagement for that evening, she suggested that Lady Corri- 
gan and I should come to her for luncheon on the morrow. 
Annie proposed that she and her father should invite three 
friends who were interested in Spirit Communion to come 
and join in a “circle” with them. We assented, so that the 
luncheon was fixed for the morrow. 


III. 

THE HEAVENLY PINK ROSE. 

Wilbur was very proud to walk up the path, between the 
box hedges, at No. 19 Elliots Grove, following Lady Corri- 
gan, who apparently knew the way blindfolded. But Wilbur, 
although with eyes wide open, seemed to be treading on air, 
as light-hearted as possible. 

“How lovely!” he exclaimed, as they entered the rose 
bower, immediately in front of the broad porch, with its three 
steps of stone, leading to the wide double doorway — an old- 
style entrance, more like a country mansion, than a city house. 
As they pulled the bell, Annie, who was looking from the 
bow window at the side, hastened to open the door herself; 
for was she not the mistress welcoming her future Lord of 
the Manor? 

Lady Corrigan, embracing Annie, said to Wilbur: “There, 
Wilbur, is the Library, on the left, where we will join you 
shortly. Make yourself at home.” But at the door stood 
a tall, fair gentleman, with grey moustache, without doubt 
Annie’s father, ready to welcome him. “Enter, Mr. Wilbur. 
My sister, Lady Corrigan, has told me about you and your 
interest in Spirit survival — a noble science, is it not? The 

13 


14 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


wife, Marjorie, Annie’s mother, frequently comes to us, and 
especially in this room, where we sat so often before and 
since her passing over. That is her portrait, between the 
windows, and you may notice the striking resemblance to 
Annie.” 

“Yes, indeed, and like her, very beautiful! Let me con- 
gratulate you on so charming a residence. I must tell you 
that I have seen it, with the rose garden outside and all the 
box hedges.” 

“How delightful! Let us hope you will come here often 
and have a smoke. It cannot be a long walk from your 
place, on Hamilton Terrace. You see, Lady Corrigan has 
given me many particulars of her young friend Wilbur, whom 
I have been most anxious to meet. Come, Annie, Wilbur is 
begging for a handshake, so don’t let Eileen monopolize you 
altogether,” as they entered the library. 

“Oh, Mr. De Forrest, Auntie says you have been all over 
the place, and are no stranger to the dining room, with its 
old oaken rafters. They are considered quite unique in Lon- 
don Town. Come and look at them,” taking Wilbur by the 
hand. “All come, for luncheon is on the table. We are 
partial to cold luncheon; but with hot coffee. I make it 
myself and I may tell you that I am no stranger to the 
chafing dish.” 

“Wilbur, that is your seat over opposite me; for Papa and 


THE HEAVENLY PINK ROSE 15 

Auntie are the heads of the table. But what does it matter, 
when the table is round and we can just play heads, if we 
want to, anywhere around it? Just think, Papa, of my call- 
ing him Wilbur — but Auntie is so sympathetic, with Wilbur 
this and Wilbur that, that she has got me hypnotised and 
my little head turned. How strange are the workings of the 
spirit! Only a few days ago and Wilbur passed by this 
house with only a glance at the number.” 

“Ah, Annie, if you had even looked me an invitation, I 
would have responded spontaneously, but you entered the 
gate, with features downcast, which was quite right, you 
know, but I got your number all right, didn’t I, dearie?” 

“You w T ere very brave, Wilbur.” 

“None but the brave, you know, dearie.” 

“I am so glad I am fair, Willy — can I call you Willy?” 

“Sure, and you are fair, Annie. Your eyes are so blue. 
They recall my vision of you. When I saw it, I said to 
myself, ‘but no eyes could really be like that.’ Tell me, 
who are the friends coming to the ‘circle’? It is set for 
tea time, isn’t it?” 

“Yes, there are three, who, together with us four, will 
make the Holy number of Seven. They are young Mr. and 
Mrs. Grant and his elderly sister. The Grants have suf- 
fered greatly over the loss of their little child ‘Elsie,’ who 
lived only eight months, and Aunt Eileen is such a comfort 


16 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


to them. They realise firmly that Elsie can come and com- 
fort them. It is such a solace, Willy, to know that there 
really is no actual death.” 

“But we don’t have to prove it to each other, dear. Isn’t 
it glorious to become spiritually developed and to have no 
tear of the future? It seems to me that I have met Miss 
Grant at Lady Corrigan’s, in one of her informal evenings. 
How good she is to give of herself so much to the cause? 
Miss Grant, I think, must have lost her lover and is greatly 
solaced by his making himself known to her at the meet- 
ings.” 

“Aunt Eileen, tell us about her,” asked Annie. 

“But you know, darling Annie, I can not tell you ; for 
when I am under control I can’t remember what is said, 
and besides it isn’t fair to make public the private affairs of 
the sitters.” 

“Now, what shall we do until the Grants arrive?” ex- 
claimed Wilbur. “Can’t we all go into the garden? I 
ought to have a rose for my buttonhole? Please, Annie.” 

“Oh, you poor darling. But you didn’t bring me a rose 
when you came to luncheon, I was disappointed, really.” 

“When you have so many?” 

“But it isn’t the same, for when you give it to me, your 
personality comes with it. Don’t you understand Psycho- 
metry ?” 

“But it is so much better for me to have your personality 


THE HEAVENLY PINK ROSE 


17 


with one of your roses. It will be really part of yourself, 
while mine would be the florist’s and the pretty flower-girl’s 
influence, all mixed up.” 

'‘All right, Wilbur, I am answered. I was very selfish, 
wasn’t I ? But come along, it will be a real pleasure to have 
you praise my garden of flowers. Come, selfish Boy!” 

So hand in hand, they passed through the high hedges 
around to the side of the house. Wilbur was the first to 
espy the gem of the collection. 

“O, Annie, how perfectly beautiful! I’ve never seen such 
a rose!” 

“Quite naturally,” exclaimed Annie, “for the very simple 
reason that there isn’t any. That is Papa’s and my special 
production, and it took the first prize.. Fancy that, Wilbur, 
your Annie, while not a suffragette, is good for something, 
don’t you think?” 

“Oh, my darling. You are just a beautiful Pink Rose 
yourself. What do you call it?” 

“The Heavenly Pink Rose! How lovely.” 

“Oh, Annie, may I quote you a verse from my poem ‘The 
Firefly’? — 

“ ‘They sleep who head not souls like thine, 

Whose privilege it is to shine.” 

“Now, Wilbur, dear one, here are two lovely buds on one 
stem: may I put them in your buttonhole?” 


18 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


“So sweet of you, lovely Annie. But Happiness, you know, 
was born a twin — let me put one of them back on your gentle 
bosom. There it nestles in the dainty lace-work as if to the 
manor born. Now we shall be mates: — 

“My darling’s a Rose and the Posies declare 
That Roses can only with Roses compare, — 

So no wreath but Roses my darling shall wear !” 


IV. 


THE CIRCLE. 

“Annie ! Annie ! The Grants are here.” 

“All right, dear Auntie, we are coming.” 

They all met in the Drawing Room, where tea was served. 

Annie insisted on Lady Corrigan taking the hostess’ chair 
and pouring the tea. 

“But it is your chair, Annie, dear!” 

“Not until Wilbur and I are actually married; for I am 
entitled to a chaperon. Then you will see me sitting very 
sedately in my high chair at the top of the table. Now Mr. 
Grant, as you are the guest of honour, I think you ought to 
help the hostess by passing the tea. — Poor Mr. Wilbur is so 
fatigued from his long walk in the garden that he is literally 
asking for a rest on the sofa with me; as if I would let any- 
body rest when there is work to be done.” 

“It isn’t that, dear Annie, (whispering). I am actually 
overcome with happiness. To think that you have really 
been given to me by the Spirit World, rose-garden and all. 
Won’t they throw in the harp of a thousand strings, so we 
can open the seance with a service of song?” 

“Yes, dear one, I am mindec to be yours altogether today. 

19 


20 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


Why coquette with love ? We belong to each other, yes from 
the moment of our visions.” 

“But you have not told me of any vision, darling.” 

“I feared it would make you too conceited and unmanage- 
able. I saw you in the Bus, when you did not know it. One 
glance was sufficient, and besides, I didn’t want to admit it 
even to myself, until you realised me and paid me proper 
courtship. I have almost thrown myself at you, as it is.” 

“Oh, darling child, and so you have been hypnotising me 
all this time?” 

“Hush, dear, we must choose our seats in the circle!” 

Now to Wilbur’s surprise, Annie walked to the corner 
and seated herself by the harp. “You see, Willy, you only 
have to ask and it is given you. Isn’t it nice? I am going 
to play the accompaniment for — 

“ABIDE WITH ME.” 

“Abide with me, fast falls the eventide. 

The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide. 

When other helpers fail and comforts flee. 

Help of the Helpless, oh, abide with me ! 

“Swift to the close ebbs out life’s little day; 

Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories fade away; 

Change and decay in all around I see ; 

Oh Thou that changeth not, abide with me ! 


THE CIRCLE 


21 


“I need Thy presence every passing hour; 

What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power ; 

Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be; 

Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me!” 

Annie’s pure strains rang out and all sang the glorious 
anthem. Then Lady Corrigan asked Wilbur to open the 
meeting with prayer: 

“Wilbur, you have been so bounteously blessed today, give 
us — ‘The Invocation.’ ” 

“Oh, God, to whose bounteous gifts we all aspire, grant us 
a measure of good to ennoble our hearts to enjoy this spiritual 
feast. And grant unto all who grope in darkness, boun- 
teously of Thy love, so that they may awake to the newer 
day. Then that they may realise Thee, even as we do now. 
For our hearts go out to Thee as even we have never real- 
ised Thee before. Today especially we feel in direct com- 
munion with Thy beauty everywhere, in this home circle, in 
this music," which so appeals to us, and the glorious flowers ; 
but above all, we shall see Thee and hear Thy voice, when 
Thou speakest directly to our souls. Bless abundantly our 
kindly instrument of communication with thee. And, oh, 
Thou who hast promised that where two or three are gath- 
ered together in Thy name Thou wilt be in the midst of 
them, be with us now and grant that we may commune with 
Thee, O Lord.” 


22 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


“I see a Bride,” spoke the Medium, “as if this meeting is 
a betrothal, and the Voice says: ‘Bless you abundantly, my 
children.’ Now a little girl’s voice says: ‘Yes, it is Elsie and 
I love you — Papa, Mamma. When you know how happy I. 
am to be with you, don’t keep me away by grief, which dis- 
turbs the vibration so that I cannot reach you, parents dear; 
but be cheerful so that I may try to make you see me. Thank 
the dear Medium for me, when she becomes normal again.’ 
Here is Joseph, ‘who does not forget his promises to Adela, 
but comes every night when she is quiet and receptive and I 
feel that she recognises my presence. Do you not sense me 
more and more, dear one?’ ‘Oh, my dear sister, how lovely 
of you to come so often and permit me to speak to my dear 
husband and girlie. She has my blessing in her marriage with 
Willy — our brave knight! I am sure he will be very happy 
with his Harp of Life and his Heavenly Pink Rose.’ ” 

Then the Medium asked if any one of the Circle wished 
any special advice from the Spirit, and after various wishes 
and answers were granted, the Medium said: “Marjorie, the 
mother of the Bride, wishes now to close the sitting by sing- 
ing: 

“NEARER, MY GOD TO THEE.” 

“Nearer, my God to Thee, nearer my God to Thee, 

Nearer to Thee, 


THE CIRCLE 


23 


E’en though it be a Cross that raiseth me: — 

Then all my song shall be 
Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee!” 

As the company passed into the hall, Mr. Chambers led 
Wilbur by the hand into the library, for a smoke, as he called 
it. But Wilbur knew there could be no smoke without a 
fire, so he felt it the occasion to settle his attitude to the 
father of Annie. 

“I am very glad to have this opportunity to thank you for 
your kind reception of your humble servant at the first meet- 
ing we have had. Although your consent has not been for- 
mally asked, I am engaged to Annie.” 

“Yes, my dear young friend, and I am only too glad to 
recognise that so splendid a chap has come our way. I thank 
God for it. I feel that with our interest and belief in Spir- 
itual leadership, your coming together must be right. Eileen 
tells me that she knows your people; so that no anxiety need 
be felt for your comfort. This small property belongs jointly 
to Annie and me, and we each have a fixed income. May 
I ask where you propose residing?” 

“That is the point I would like very much to settle, my- 
self. Would you not like for us all to live together? You 
and Annie provide the home and I run the machine. I am 
not a bad driver, which reminds me of a little secret that I 
have from Annie, but I will let you into it. She showed me 


24 LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 
a dear little garage by the rose garden, just big enough for 
my new laundelet. It is blue, sir, inside and out. What do 
you think of that? I feel myself very psychic about it. I 
am just dying to take Annie out in it.” 

“Good enough, dear boy. You’ll do first rate.” 


V. 


THE ENGAGEMENT. 

“Oh, Aunt Eileen, I’m in love. Isn’t he nice? — Wil- 
bur, I mean. What do you think Papa told me last night, 
after you all went away? Just he and I left for dinner to- 
gether? He said: 

“ ‘Why so silent, Annie, dear?’ 

“ ‘Oh, Papa, I was thinking of him.’ 

“‘Who, darling?’ 

“ ‘Now don’t be funny, you old dear! You know perfectly 
well.’ 

“ ‘I suppose you mean Wilbur. Well, he is thinking of 
you, too. He told me something that proves it.’ 

“ ‘Did he buy a ring and show it to you? I don’t know 
just what kind of a fool I shall make of myself when he 
shows me a ring. I’ll bet it will be a great big diamond 
solitaire. Wilbur doesn’t do anything by halves. What was 
it he told you?’ 

“ ‘He told me in confidence, and I think he is entitled to 
the fun of telling you himself as a surprise.’ 

“ ‘He couldn’t surprise me, except by growing cold : but I 
am not going to entertain any such solitary idea. I should 
just go down and jump off the London Bridge. You better 
tell him to be careful of me. I really am dangerous — about 
him.’ 

“ ‘Well, dearie, the chief surprise is about the marriage.” 

25 


26 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


“ ‘Why, what about it?’ 

“ ‘He asked me my idea about it and he actually asked me 
if he couldn’t come here and live. Of course he meant after 
the marriage. He said so, in fact.’ 

“‘How did that come about? Did you ask him if his in- 
tentions were honorable? No, you are not quite such a silly: 
but you are, you know you are, somethimes idiotic, Dad?’ 

“ ‘No, he said quite wisely, that, as I had invited him into 
the library for a smoke that he was glad of the opportunity to 
talk matters over. While he had not had any chance to ask 
for my consent, he thought I ought to know that you were 
engaged, you know, — just like that.’ 

“ ‘I am glad he admitted that much, but, Papa, he hasn’t 
really asked me. He has fixed something up with Aunt 
Eileen, I know, but he just seems to take me for granted. I 
am so glad, for I couldn’t really stand any set speeches from 
him. I’d be frightened that things weren’t quite a certainty. 
So that much is sure now, you old dear!’ 

“ ‘Oh, yes, he is sure, all right. Why, I told him that 
Eileen assured me that she knew all about his connections 
and that there need be no anxiety about the future. So I 
thought it best to let him know that this property belonged 
to you and me jointly, and that we each had an income. Well, 
he said that didn’t matter, excepting that he thought that 
since meeting me we might all want to stick together. If 
we put in the residence, he and Annie could run the machine. 
He was funny calling it a machine, wasn’t he, dear?” 

“Oh, I don’t know, it is something like that. What else 
did he say?” 


THE ENGAGEMENT 


27 


“Now you are fishing for the secret. You know men must 
stand together, dearie; but you shall know all by tomorrow, 
I am sure. There is something about Wilbur that reminds 
you of greased lightning, or blue vitriol or something rapid.” 

“Now I wonder what he is up to now? I must look into 
this, Papa. You are not quite right in the upper story, at 
your advanced age.’ So, Auntie dear, as I couldn’t get any- 
thing more out of Papa, just you think out what kind of a 
surprise Wilbur is plotting for me.” 

“Perhaps, Annie, the surprise has something to do with a 
hasty marriage?” 

“Yes, it was something quick. Papa spoke of lightning and 
blue vitriol. Let us hope Wilbur isn’t going into the aero- 
plane business and taking me to fly in the blue vault of 
heaven! Papa said that Wilbur thought his number was 
three. Perhaps he wants to be married in three weeks, 
Auntie.” 

“No, Wilbur has talked with me about that and said he 
left everything like that to Annie, but what do you think 1 
suggested, why three years!” 

“We might both be spirits by that time. Just go under 
control, Auntie, and let Mamma explain to Wilbur the law 
upon that subject — but I think an elopement would be bet- 
ter than too much red tape, myself.” 

“I’ll tell Wilbur that, and he will be so pleased. There’s 
some one ringing the front bell ; look out of the window and 
seee who it is, Annie, dear.” 

“Bless your dear heart, Auntie, it is my boy — talking of, 
and so forth! What are we to do? He is lightning with 


28 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


blue flashes, all rgiht, isn’t he? You see him, Auntie, and 
warn me. Don’t let him surprise me until I get a little pre- 
pared. I feel palpitation now.” 

“Oh, Wilbur, I am glad you came in.” 

“But I can’t stop but a moment; just ran in to ask if 
Annie has been here. Father told me at Elliots Grove that 
she was probably taking lunch here as she had not come 
home.” 

“You don’t mean to say that you called him ‘Father,’ like 
that?” 

“Why not? He’s the only one I’ve got, and he says he 
looks upon me as a son?” 

“Well, I’ll call Annie down. She is quite excited, Wilbur. 
Tell me, what is the idea?” 

“Oh, nothing great. I felt I must consult her about some- 
thing. She has such exquisite taste.” 

“There now, Wilbur, I believe you are just as excitable 
as a woman yourself ! — Annie, can you come down ? Wilbur 
has just dropped in to say that he has been very much ex- 
cited and wants you to steady him with your matronly advice. 
Come along down, dear!” 

“Oh, Wilbur, how perfectly awful of you to shock me 
with a thing like that! Aunt Eileen, did you ever?” Hold- 
ing out a superb three-stone ring — a diamond center, with 
ruby and sapphire on each side, all large stones. 

“Yes, Auntie, dear, as I consider that we are practically 
married, I picked out a ring that Annie cmild wear perma- 
nently, if she approves. It is too late for a mere engagement 
ring.” 


THE ENGAGEMENT 


29 


“Well, you are a surprise packet, Wilbur, but next time, I 
counsel you to come prepared with a bottle of smelling salts, 
for I may faint if Annie does not. She has wonderful nerve 
tc stand up under a thing like that.” 

“How could any one faint looking at a sun and stars like 
these ? It is the awful extravagance that has scared me into 
sitting up,” said Annie. 

“The only thing to do to keep awake is to kiss my boy, 
Auntie. Now you give him another one, dear. He ought 
to be smothered in kisses. That’s what he deserves. But I 
am not going to kiss him again, myself. Do you know, 
Auntie, that Willy, with all his go, has never grabbed me and 
given me a good hug, as most lovers do. Don’t they? — My 
gracious, darling, you’ve mussed up my hair and disarranged 
my dress so that I can’t sit straight in the chair. I think you 
are horrid. Kiss me again, nicely this time, darling! Oh, 
Auntie, he’s had a lot of experience. Poor me, I never knew 
it was so sweet to be loved. How very blessed we are, all 
of us, to be friends together. Has it got anything to do with 
the spirits? What must they think of us, Auntie?” 

“Oh, dear Annie, what a child you are ! Why don’t you 
ask Willy to take you home in his car?” winking at Wilbur. 

“Yes, do, dearest, ask me. Come along, I’ll get it ready.” 

“What car, Auntie? Has he got a car, too? (Looking 
out of the window.) Oh, just look at that! Where’s my 
blue cape? Isn’t it a dandy?” 

“Oh, Papa, I just want you to come out and look at our 


30 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


new car. Wilbur has gone clean off his head. He says he 
got it for our wedding tour. It looks as if he was pretty 
near ready for it. Tell Wilbur he must give me time to get 
my clothes packed. Has he arranged anything with you 
about it?” 

“No, he just remarked casually, that he had arranged with 
Auntie to look after that. Didn’t she tell you about the ar- 
rangements? You are to have a private wedding at her house 
snd breakfast heie.” 


VI. 


THE HONEYMOON. 

“Now, Wilbur, you and Papa are having secrets from 
me. Aunt Eileen is in it too. How reckless of you all to 
think that you can just do as you please about me! I’d have 
you know that I am something of importance. If the min- 
ister has got to kiss me, I propose to select the proper person.” 

“But it is not going to be a gentleman this trip, Annie.” 

“Then what kind of a thing is he? Worse and worse!” 

“It’s a she, dearie. I looked after that, my little self. 
Aunt Eileen, after consultation with your sainted mother, 
decided that as we must have some ceremony, so that the 
marriage should be recorded, Mrs. Oliphant, the pastor of 
the First Spiritualistic Church, should attend at her house 
on the — what day is it to be, Annie? — at twelve o’clock. 
What day is it to be, dearest?” 

“Well, I insist on tomorrow, then; get over that if you 
can! I happen to know that she has a meeting there to- 
morrow to raise funds for the Fool’s Paradise Organization. 
So what are you all going to do about it now? Nice busi- 
ness, you all having the fun of arranging things to suit your- 
selves without consulting me ! I am the star actor or actress, 
rather, in this film, and I decline to be hustled. So there!” 

“Tut! Tut! you are doing the hustling! Fancy, my new 
morning suit won’t be ready until next week. How about 
your habit?” 


31 


32 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 

“Why, bless me, I never thought of that. How long can 
we wait, Wilbur.” 

“I should say, a fortnight, darling Annie.” 

“Yum, yum! Bill, you are a Buster! Kiss me, darling. 
I don’t care when, ask Papa.” 

“Oh, I don’t know. Any day, I suppose, except Friday — 
hangman’s day, dearie,” said Mr. Chambers. 

“How would a week from Sunday do, Willy, selfish boy!” 

“Saturday’s the thing. We can spend a week’s end at 
Oxford and I can show you off to the boys. They’ll be keen 
on you, Annie.” 

“Thank you ! I suppose I can have something to say about 
the lunch here after the nonsense at Aunt Eileen’s.” 

“Yes, very good. You can consult with father and me, if 
you are a good little girl.” 

“So sweet of you, Mr. De Forrest,” making a curtsey! 

“Now can I leave the car in the garage, your Highness?” 

“Oh, Willy, let’s run it in ourselves. I’ll open the doors. 
How lovely! Kiss me, darling. I’m so proud of my new 
chauffeur. Come along, Dad, and see the fun. Kiss me, 
Papa, I’m so happy. No flies on Wilbur, are there, Dad!” 

When Annie got into the car with Wilbur after he had it 
safe in the garage, she threw her arms around him and said : 
“Willy, dear, I’m going to do exactly what you order me. 
You are commander-in-chief of this household brigade.” 

“Well then, darling aide-de-camp, make a note to have a 
big chicken salad on Saturday week for luncheon, and be 
sure and put up a tea basket of good things for our trip on 
Saturday afternoon — roast chicken, boiled eggs, two bottles 


THE HONEYMOON 33 

of milk and two bottles of champagne. We might get be- 
calmed overnight somewhere and have to sleep in the car. 
Could you manage on the seat, if I slept on the floor, on the 
deep blue rug? It doesn’t matter where we are, dearest, so 
long as we are both there, does it, darling?” 

“No, never, darling! How do you like your little aide- 
. de-camp ?” 

“Oh, darling, you are boss dog, and you can put your feet 
on the commander-in-chief, if you want to!” 

“But tell me, Will, does the lady parson kiss the bride- 
groom? Tell her the rule is for all parsons to kiss the bride. 
I’ll slap her if she kisses you. Get that?” 

“Whew! You’re a Western tornado, Annie. From what 
I have seen of Mrs. Oliphant, if she grabs me I shall bolt for 
the door, so you are entirely safe. But I am going to kiss 
Eileen good-bye, when we start off in the car, so you just 
look the other way. She deserves a medal!” 

The wedding passed off quietly on Saturday fortnight. Mr. 
Chambers was quite in evidence, as master of ceremonies. 
Wilbur was very grateful to him for his interest. Of course 
there were no specific spiritual exercises by Mrs. Eliphant, 
as Willy called her privately to Annie, finding that there was 
the least trace of jealousy in Annie’s make-up. Annie had 
forgotten to remove her white kid glove before the trying 
moment came, — that of finding the ring — and there was quite 
a row getting the recreant glove off; but Wilbur yanked the 
thing straight down from the very wrist, inside out, and on 
to the floor. Wilbur put the glove in his pocket, saying that 
the thing must remain there until they wanted to go on their 


34 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


journey. That it might yet upset the whole show. He had 
the ring all right, Annie noticed. 

The wedding guests at Lady Corrigan’s were carried to 
Elliots Grove in motors belonging to the various persons 
present at the wedding. The blue car took the lead nat- 
urally, the rest following. 

Annie looked very perky and pink in her go-away blue 
dress and suited the blue car wonderfully, which Wilbur had 
half opened, and, in fun, held out to Annie a parasol, blue 
with a pink lining, which, he told Annie, was a fixture for 
the car. Lady Corrigan rode with the Grants, while Mrs. 
Oliphant and her friend were with the Lathombys, both ar- 
dent spiritualists. Mr. Chambers received the guests and they 
were soon all seated around the table, in the great oak din- 
ing room. By the aid of extension tables crossing each end 
of the long table, all of the guests could be seated. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur de Forrest held one end of the 
table and Mr. Chambers and Lady Corrigan the other end. 
There was general conversation for a time when, suddenly, 
Mrs. Oliphant, rising, exclaimed: “That Annie’s mother 
wished to welcome her darling children and to announce that, 
as it personally required her whole time to keep Annie from 
going off her head, Mrs. Chambers begged to introduce her 
friend Joseph, the Spirit husband of Adela Grant. Joseph 
wished to be the first person to propose the health and long 
life of the newly wedded pair and to couple the name of his 
own bride Adela Grant with himself. 

“Would she make a few expressions of sympathy for the 


THE HONEYMOON 35 

brave couple who were giving their aid to the furtherance of 
the great cause of spiritual survival ?” 

Lady Corrigan rose and said: “She could echo the spirit 
Joseph’s sentiment, as he so often appeared through her to 
Adela, and it would be pleasant to hear words of welcome 
to Joseph, who thus* insisted on testifying to his friendship 
to these earthly friends.” 

Adela rose and explained that as she was not an orator, she 
must depend upon Joseph to see her safely through the ordeal. 
She had been steadily improving in the realization of Joseph’s 
controling her at times, and she felt that he was doing so 
now on this great occasion of the spiritual marriage of their 
very dear friends, Wilbur and Annie, as they call everyone 
in the Summerland by their Christian names. Lord Lathomby 
rose next in order, claiming the privilege on account of being 
Wilbur’s chum at college. He wanted to testify to Wilbur’s 
constancy and taste. He had invited him to act as best man 
for his former marriage with a girl, who was some girl at 
Oxford. She had a very red complexion, dark, short hair, 
plump red arms and a buxom figure, and served drinks at 
the principal bar in Oxford called “The Cat and Kittens.” 
Well, he assured Wilbur that he would have to provide him 
with numerous potations to enable him to act, for he had 
rather a weak stomach and he really believed he himself 
would change his mind when he became sober. Although not 
so psychic then as he might have been, still he saw that Wil- 
bur would marry a very beautiful girl, with fair, peach-like 
complexion and blue eyes. If he didn’t actually see Annie 
then, he ought to have been “hazed” — yet being a strong be- 


36 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


liever in destiny, he thought his vision had come true, in the 
present event, and he was glad that he had lived to see that 
he had rescued this dear boy from the error of his ways. 

Annie now took the floor, claiming that as she was drawn 
into this marriage by a conspiracy between Wilbur and Lady 
Corrigan and even her own father, evidently all thinking she 
was a weak little thing and couldn’t get a husband of her own 
accord, she must now protect herself. She was going to sim- 
ply will Lord Lathomby back to his college days as a pro- 
tection when they went to Oxford. His mention of the word 
“hazing” was enough. She firmly believed that that was 
what Wilbur had up his sleeve. They were going to haze 
her. She didn’t just know what hazing was, but she was of 
opinion that it was something about tearing each other’s 
clothes off, something like that, and as Wilbur was only tak- 
ing a suitcase for them both, she really couldn’t stand it to 
have her only dress torn off her there among that disorderly 
crowd of ruffians. All this change in Wilbur had come about 
some way connected with the new car. She had noticed a 
peculiar gleam in his eye when he drove up in it. Would 
you believe it, he had even arranged for them to sleep in it 
by the roadside. And he dropped some minor hints about the 
boys being keen on her. Was not that hazing? He had once 
even told her in cold blood that the boys were very keen on 
hazing, so what should she do unless Lord Lathomby and 
Joseph did stand by her. 

Another peculiar feature was that her father had suggest- 
ed that a family council should be held that very evening at 
Lady Corrigan’s, as to putting Wilbur under restraint. Evi- 


The honeymoon 


37 


dently he had compunctions. But Lady Corrigan, who has 
some ideas of the fitness of things, mentioned that as I was 
under obligation to take the present trip with Wilbur, it 
would necessitate that both of us lunatics would be locked up 
in the same sanitarium.. So I had to convince father that 
we were best to camp our car out in the open cricket ground 
at Oxford. There no harm could come to the public as we 
could only haze each other. And as we had elected to go 
ahead with this silly adventure, perhaps in war time it would 
be a natural course of events. So here goes! I drink to all 
lunatics at large and to Papa and Aunt Eileen in particular, 
who got us into this fix! 




VII. 


OXFORD. 

Three o’clock came and the pair went up stairs to ar- 
range their travelling things; no change of clothing being 
necessary, as they had been married in the morning costumes. 
Still Annie jokingly was sarcastic. “Fancy going away in 
these trying times with only one suit! Why, supposing it 
should rain? Then you have only to put up the top? Yes? 
If it rains I will have the best of it, for Will will have 
to get out and attend to that. I shan’t. But if I do, I’ll 
put up the blue parasol. Wilbur, I say don’t forget to take 
a mackintosh. It is sure to rain.” 

“Never mind, dearie, I can borrow yours.” 

“Hear that. He’s going off half cocked.” 

But the real fun began when the car was just ready to 
start from the door and Wilbur observed the old shoe tied 
on to the back axle. He out with his pocket knife and cut 
it loose, observing, “that might really be a cause of hazing!” 

“What’s that? Heavens, I put it there myself,” said An- 
nie. At four o’clock they were off, with the whole neigh- 
borhood gathered at the front door. They took a straight 
course for Oxford and arrived safely in time for dinner. 1 
was in the early Autumn, and after an early dinner, Wilbur 
took Annie about to see the different courts, with their beauti- 
fully coloured walls. Annie was amazed and eloquent at the 

39 


4C LADY CORRIGAN'S LOVE MATCH 

glory of coiour. In every quadrangle the four walls were 
draped with the different creepers and vines, some green, 
some yellow, some red and brown. The Virginia creeper, 
the ivy, and here and there the flowering wisteria with occa- 
sional bunches of blue and violet, like pale bunches of grapes. 

“This season of the year, as the early frosts come, pro- 
claims the glory of God, in the calm of these quiet cloisters, ’ 
said Wilbur. 

“Oh, Wilbur,” was Annie’s response. A thrill of rapture 
passed through their young and spontaneous hearts, as they 
stood hand-in-hand observing the glory of colour which to 
the psychic means so much. Wilbur recognized his own col- 
our scheme of red and brown, pertaining to his No. 9 vibra- 
tion, while Annie gloried in the blue sentiment of the pro- 
fuse bunches of Wisteria. They passed to view the elaborate 
Gothic window of Christ College and their souls were uplift- 
ed to the beauty of that glorious creation of architecture. 
The calm greens of the frequent lawns threaded by the sil- 
very river, quietly moving past Wilbur’s own college the 
Magdalen called to their hearts with a soothing quality. Wil- 
bur and Annie were compelled to commune silently amidst 
these psychic surroundings. They could not but feel the up- 
lifting influence of these historical buildings which had per- 
meated the progress and culture of England during long years 
of growth; and their hearts responded to the exhilaration of 
the spectacle. Wilbur and Annie realized that the fruition 
of their lives was upon them, in their quiet expressions to each 
other, “This is our own season of abundant joy, dear Annie,” 


OXFORD 


41 


and “Yes, the beauty and the joy of life is made manifest, 
dear Wilbur” — was what they said to each other, standing at 
the portals of life with all its hopes and responsibility. 

The next day being Sunday, all material thoughts and friv- 
olity were suppressed in the holy sentiment of the occasion. 
They attended the church services of such spiritual bodies as 
held forth at Oxford and a particularly beautiful song-ser- 
vice appealed to them, especially as there was a harp accom- 
paniment, which touched Annie very deeply. She had de- 
voted herself seriously to the harp, and it had been used so 
rarely of late that she deemed it a sort of special Providence 
that it should have been vouchsafed to her on this her bridal 
tour. Tears were in her eyes and Wilbur silently pressed 
her hand. He was overcome as well as she, and altogether 
they spent a thankful Sabbath at Oxford which they will long 
remember. 

Monday created a revulsion of feeling, for all Oxford was 
aflame. The old royal game of cricket was being attacked — 
an American baseball match was to be played upon the cricket 
ground. It seemed that a double baseball team had been 
touring the Continent and had even played a few games in 
the East, notably near to the Pyramids at Cairo. Only re- 
cently these two teams had played in London at Earls Court 
grounds and the King had been anxious to view the match. 
Wilbur had been present and was surprised at the scientific 
game, so now was desirous that Annie should attend the pres- 
en match at Oxford ; for it was going on to Cambridge and 
was sure to create a furor. 


42 LADY CORRIGAN'S LOVE MATCH 

“Now, Annie, is your chance to see some hazing! We are 
off for the cricket ground at two o’clock. Take your blue par- 
asol. It won’t rain, but there will be some bombs flying 
around and you must ward them off. You will want also to 
shade your eyes from the sun. It will be great fun, but no 
danger for your clothes, for we will be up in a grand stand 
under police protection, and you can see just how the boys 
make each other hustle!” 

“Why, Willy, but you are a cataclysmic personage to be 
sure. I am so glad you are through college. Suppose a bomb 
should have hit you. But of course the bombs are since the 
war. What awful cannibals we have become ! Are you sure 
there won’t any of them fly up where we are, that you want 
me to ward off with the parasol? I suppose the silk won’t 
be hard enough to set them off. Now you are funning me; I 
see your mouth twitching as it always does when you are 
lying to me. Poor Annie, she has such a lot to contend with, 
selfish boy!” 

“Now Annie, if you will promise not to beat me with the 
parasol, I will own up ; I am so anxious to tell you all about 
the game before it begins. We will draw a plan of the 
ground, so you will understand it. You see it is shaped like 
a diamond, with path all around it. In the center is the 
pitcher, with an assistant, called shortstop. Near the top is 
the batter, with the catcher outside, behind him. On the 
other three corners of the diamond, are the three basemen, 
and the three fielders are far beyond to catch the balls and 
put the batters out. When a batter hits the ball, he has to 


OXFORD 


43 


run for first base, if he is not caught out. And then he has 
to make all bases as quickly as he can in order to count the 
runs and get out of the way of the following batters. When 
the game is on we can explain the details. It is a close rival 
to cricket, and much more spectacular.” 

The very first bat was beautiful. The pitcher threw a 
straight ball which the batter struck fair and sent it down the 
field, describing a wonderful parabola directly to the center- 
fielder. He took the ball, while the batter was on his way 
to first base. The batter seeing it caught, he stopped running 
when near his base, and with a dejected air walked slowly 
back, knowing he had been caught out. It was a wonderful 
catch. The fielders are provided with a glove for one hand, 
padded so as to relieve the impact, and their skill is remark- 
able, they being so trained to estimate the distance and place 
themselves where they know the ball must descend. The pre- 
cision of these players in all parts of the game is marvellous, 
both as to the distance of batting the ball, and to throwing 
or catching it, so that it is very exciting to watch the success 
or failure of any maneuvre in the game. So swiftly does the 
pitcher throw the ball that it is necessary to provide the 
catcher with a wire frame over his face, as the ball might 
very well be a bomb should it strike through his hands and 
hit his head. When two or three runners are on the bases by 
previous batting and a new batter strikes the ball, there are 
sometimes very serious complications from the newcomer to 
get first base, and for the others to get advanced bases with- 
out being put out. The maneuvre to catch one of the run- 


44 LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 

ners between the bases is so interesting that extraordinary 
swiftness is required to throw and catch the ball so as to 
prevent the runner geoing on or back, as the case may be. 
Three out ends the inning. 

With all their skill at cricket, the boys were amazed at the 
perfection of play of the baseballers. So with true English 
sportsmanship the Oxford boys applauded each clever strike 
or catch, until it became a veritable triumph for the game 
itself. Wilbur especially, a thorough sportsman, went wild 
with enthusiasm, and his hat was in the air a great part of 
the time. Annie, with all her native modesty was sometimes 
standing on the benches cheering and encouraging the run- 
ners to achieve their bases. She was always a study to Wil- 
bur and her chief charm lay in her enthusiasm and spon- 
taniety. 

“Oh, Willy, you have lost your little girl! I am going 
down to embrace that batsman who sent the ball clean out 
of the cricket ground. He is the most wonderful player I 
have ever seen.” But soon afterwards, with a change of 
heart, she fell in love with the right fielder, who caught the 
ball after its being batted through what seemed a mile and a 
half of flight through the blue vault of the sky. But after 
the third explosion of Annie, Wilbur threatened to have the 
pitcher throw a real bomb up into the grand stand, saying he 
would rather have the whole business blown to Jerico than 
suffer such humiliation, when as a matter of fact he had done 
everything they had done and was known as a crack shot at 
anything. In any case, he could go back to the barmaid if he 


OXFORD 


45 


couldn’t do anything else to hush Annie up. Whereupon 
Annie subsided. And this episode resulted in a draw game 
between them. 

Yet there was awaiting them a double triumph, quite un- 
expected, which threw the baseballers into the background. 
Just as Wilbur was helping Annie down from the bench after 
her enthusiastic acclaim to the catcher for taking a foul ball, 
which circled to an enormous height backwards and curled 
into the catcher’s left hand as slick as you please, some of the 
college boys following Wilbur as freshmen when he grad- 
uated as senior, recognized him helping Annie, so beautiful in 
her blue get-up. The boys- recognising a honeymoon couple in 
them, got busy and immediately surrounded the pair. At a 
given signal, they set up their college demoniac yell, with 
clapping hands, and Wilbur was compelled to acknowledge 
their salute. Then a frank presentation of Mrs. Wilbur de 
Forrest took place. This was enough and the mob raised 
Wilbur upon their shoulders and with two others escorting 
Annie, arm in arm, they carried him to where they repre- 
sented was the college jail. This was no worse than his 
presentation at the official box where were seated the princi- 
pal guests of the occasion. Champagne and sandwiches were 
served up to them and Annie was deputed to go with two 
deputies to the car and return with a fine box of segars, 
which Wilbur had brought, with a view to an ideal smoke 
each day upon their tour. But it fortunately had become his 
acknowledgment and treat for his comrades. 

On the close of the match, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur were 


4f LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 

escorted to their car in triumph, the members of the rival 
teams forming a body guard around the car, and as they left 
the gate, such a conjoined yell of the boys from all colleges, 
baseballers and Oxonians generally, went up as never before 
that time was heard, and we have no record of any since. 


VIII. 

STRATFORD ON AVON. 

There was little dispute regarding the journey from Ox- 
ford. Wilbur said that he preferred to be simply Annie’s 
chauffeur on the tour northward, and he only asked for in- 
structions whither to drive. Thereupon Annie observed that 
there was only one monumental pile for the psychic. Of 
course Wilbur must remember that he had done Shakespeare’s 
birthplace thoroughly. But Annie had not been there. So it 
was decreed that they should do homage to perhaps the great- 
est of all modern psychics — Shakespeare ! Annie did not wish 
to do Stratford as the tourist does it, but only asked to spend 
next Sunday there. She was particularly attracted to see 
Anne Hathaway’s cottage. For there it was that Shakespeare 
wooed Anne as his future wife. 

“You know, Wilbur, that whichever way you spell it, Anne 
or Annie, it vibrates the same — to the number 7. So there 
i. some vibration between Annie and William, who vibrates 
to number 7 also. So to Stratford let us go.” Accordingly 
they went. Said Wilbur, “Won’t you explain this theory of 
numbers to me, Annie, dear?” 

“Yes, Wilbur, but it pains me somewhat that there is some 
discord between us about it. Aunt Eileen told me about it, 
but we can not go back to her now and change anything. We 
have made our bed and must lie on it. But not in the motor 
car, dear. But I will draw out the numbers and the alphabet 
and explain it. Aunt Eileen stated that it was written by 

47 


48 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


Pythagoras, one of the greatest of the ancient psychics, who 
received it spiritually in the Vlth Century B.C.” 

“So then you were due to marry a William, Annie?” 

“But you were so self-willed, you simply took possession 
of me, which Auntie thinks must be explained by the number 
of your birth vibration, but whatever it is, I have got to yield 
to your stronger will; so be gentle with your Annie, dear 
Wilbur. But just now our William is the immortal Shake- 
speare. Can’t you sense the spirit of culture — poetry, philos- 
ophy, in the very air of Stratford? I know that the number 
to Wilbur is 4, which is a very strong vibration. So it must 
be that I needed you. So we will just worship William to- 
gether. 

“That’s all right, dear, but I have a little idea of my own. 
My full name is Wilbur William de Forrest. You didn’t 
know that of course. But you knew that I was all right to 
wed my darling. So good-bye Wilbur from this time for 
evermore. Call me Willy, just as you have several times, 
and the jig is up. I am number 7 all right.” 

“Now for the psychic side of the great William! Do you 
know that there is a book written, giving references to his 
expressions that confirm his psychic insight? I will get it and 
we will go over it together.” 

This was said just as they were crossing the noble bridge 
with its high arches. From it could be seen the fine memor- 
ial building and near the river, the monument to Shakespeare 
by Willy’s friend, Lord Ronald Gower. As they drove into 
town on the left they passed the house of Julia Shakespeare, 
the younger sister, who lived here for many years. On the 


49 


STRATFORD ON AVON 

right Willy pointed out the Red Horse Hotel, made memor- 
able by Washington Irving; for in one of its rooms he wrote 
the interesting paper on Stratford. His chair is shown and 
the poker with which he poked the fire during his medita- 
tions. 

“But Annie, the great thing is to cull out as much as 
possible the actual sayings of Shakespeare, referring to 
Spirits, ” observed William, reflectively reclining in his big 
chair. “I did that before starting on the trip, knowing that 
my Annie would hold me accountable. So here goes: 

“In Anthony and Cleopatra, Anthony, on seeing Cleopatra 
enter, says: 

“ ‘To this great Fairy I’ll commend thy acts, 

May her thanks bless thee.’ 

“In Cymbeline, when the two brothers find Imogen in 
their cave, Belarius: 

“ ‘* * * * * I should think 
Here were a Fairy.’ 

“And he then adds: 

“‘By Jupiter, an Angel!’ 

“In ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ Puck styles Oberon 
‘King of Shadows,’ and this monarch asserts of himself and 
his subjects: 

“ ‘But we are Spirits of another sort.’ 


50 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


“Oberon says: ‘I am invisible and will overhear 
their conference.’ 

“When Titania is desirous of taking a nap, she says to her 
attendant : 

“ 'Come, now a roundel, and a Fairy song.’ 

“And further on, she tells Bottom: Til give thee Fairies 
to attend thee, and they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, 
and sing, while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep.’ 

“So Horatio tells Hamlet how, when Marcellus and Ber- 
nardo were on their watch: 

“ ‘A figure like your father, 

Armed at point, exactly, cap a pie, 

Appears before them, and with solemn march 
Goes slow and stately by them.’ 

“Marcellus: ‘Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio.’ 
“Hamlet: ‘Horatio, didst thou not speak to it?’ 

“Horatio: ‘* * * My Lord, I did, 

But answer made it none; yet once methought 
It lifted up its head and did address 
Itself to motion, like as it would speak.’ 

“Hamlet: ‘It is a damned ghost that we have seen.’ 

“This Ghost of Hamlet’s father says: 

“ ‘I am thy Father’s Spirit, 

Doomed for a certain term to walk the night.’ 


STRATFORD ON AVON 51 

“The time of night, as the season wherein Spirits wander 
abroad, is further noticed by Gardiner in Henry III. : 

“ * * Affairs that walk, 

As they say Spirits do, at midnight.’ 

“Again, Hamlet: 

“Horatio: ‘But soft, behold! lo, where it comes again! 
I’ll cross it, though it blast me.’ 

“Hamlet: ‘Angels and ministers of grace defend us, 

Be thou a Spirit of Earth, or Goblin damned, 

Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, 
Be thy intents wicked or charitable, 

Thou comest in such a questionable shape 
That I will speak to thee!’ 

“Hamlet: ‘The Spirit that I have seen.’ ” 

“From ‘King Lear’: 

“ ‘ It is the stars, 

The stars above us, govern our conditions.’ 

“ ‘The Tempest’ : 

“ ‘Our revels now are ended ; these our actors, 

As I foretold you, were all spirits, and 
Are melted into air, into thin air; 

And like the baseless fabric of this vision, 

The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces, 


52 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


The solemn temples, the great globe itself, 

Yea, all which it inherits, shall dissolve; 

And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, 

Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff 
As dreams are made of, and our little life 
Is rounded with a sleep. 

Hamlet: 

“There are more things in heaven and wxth, Horatio, 
Than are dreamed of in your philosophy.” 


IX. 

GLASTONBURY ABBEY 

It was agreed that the next visit should be to Glastonbury. 
Said Annie: “How perfectly wonderful that our wedding 
trip should be sanctified by a visit to Glastonbury. Oxford! 
Stratford ! and Glastonbury ! — the funeral Pyre of King Ar- 
thur and Queen Guinevere! Here it was that the Romance 
of the Isle of Avallon is installed. Glastonbury was so sur- 
rounded by marsh and water that it was called the Isle. And 
in this region the Knights of the Round Table made history. 
It is something of a puzzle to work it out, but the Holy 
Grail was supposed to have ascended into Heaven at Sarras. 
Sir Galahad, Sir Percival and Sir Boris were present and 
there is no reasonable doubt about it. But in case it was still 
extant, why should it not be given unto us to find it?” 

“Why couldn’t Papa and Aunt Eileen meet us there? We 
could all meet at the Swan Hotel at Wells, near that Cathe- 
dral, and motor on to Glastonbury, only five miles away. 
Won’t they be astonished to find William in your name?” 

“Yes, dear Annie, that is splendid of you. You have that 
rare gift called gratitude that my heart warms to you now 
more than ever. Father and Auntie must surely come. I 
will write tonight and tomorrow they will come by train. 
Let me see, there can’t be any baseballers there to distract 
your attention, and you must promise me that you won’t fall 
in love with any of those wily curates, out that way. There, 

53 


54 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


that kiss settles it! Now keep your eye on the gunner, for 
he is after the Holy Grail!” 

It seemed as though the car never ran so smooth and so 
fast. Glastonbury is an ancient town, renowned in fable as 
the spot where Joseph of Aramethia founded the first Chris- 
tian Church in England. In sober fact, Glastonbury Abbey 
can trace its foundation back to the sixth century, and is the 
one great institution which bore up through the storm of 
English Conquest, the one great tie which binds our race to 
the last race which went before and which binds the church 
of the last 1300 years to the earliest days of Christianity in 
Britain. 

When the party had met at Wells and had a good night’s 
rest and a hearty breakfast, they were off in two cars and did 
Glastonbury thoroughly. It was a somewhat strange experi- 
ence to review this wonderful old pile, built and destroyed 
and rebuilt again and restored from time to time, until now 
only various ruins remain to point out the history of the first 
Christian Church in Britain. 

What interested the old folks most was the pointed way of 
Annie continually calling William this and William that, un- 
til the fact came out, and they all rejoiced that Annie and 
Willy could read their titles clear to mansions in the skies. 

“I suppose it makes a difference whether the name of Will- 
iam was actually given to him or if he had faked it, Auntie?” 

“Yes, it ought to have been naturally given, but the will to 
have it that way, might have accomplished it. Willy will 
now always have it in his mind that he is William, so let us 
hope that he will always be faithful to his No. 7 vibration.” 


GLASTONBURY ABBEY 55 

“It would surely be impossible for Willy to be anything 
but William now. For I will keep him reminded of it all 
right,” quoth Annie. “Have you heard the latest? Billy 
wired to his segar store for a fresh box of the segars Father 
liked so much. So you see, Papa dear, Billy-Boy is on the 
job, and Auntie, he has not forgotten ‘Eileen’ either, for he 
said: ‘We must not forget her, dearie;’ but he would not tell 
me what the article was.” 

“Oh, just a little thing for the tooth-ache!” he said. 

“It wouldn’t surprise me if you received a bottle of some 
new cure for corns, Auntie.” 

But on the day for the visit to Glastonbury, Annie was 
handed a considerable packet at the hotel office, addressed — 
“Mrs. William de Forrest, Swan Hotel, Wells.” She has- 
tened to her room and opened it hastily. There fell out three 
parcels — the segars for father, a grand box of chocolates for 
Annie, and “What do you think, Auntie, for you? Why. just 
this dainty watch. Let me pin it on you. What do you see?” 

“Why, just a blue enamelled watch, with a blue Fleur-de- 
Lys brooch,” gasped Lady Corrigan. “Oh, Willy, you are, 
you know you are, just a surprise packet yourself! But 
Annie, darling, I must change with you. Willy would never 
forgive us for not knowing that the blue watch was for you. 
Let me pin it on you, dear. Quick ! I hear him coming up 
from breakfast.” 

Sure enough, he arrived just in time to catch Annie with 
the watch on her. She said: “Naughty William, how you 
try to tease your Annie? We knew that you mis-named the 
parcels purposely to catch us both; and that the watch was 


56 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


for the new motor car. See, Eileen is for getting a toothache 
for you to cure, as fast as possible. She has eaten half the 
box already. But I am going to wire for a gold watch for 
Eileen. What! got it already?” as Willy pulled a case out 
of his pocket. “So you had it come privately to yourself? 
Naughty Boy,” as Willy pinned the new watch on Eileen, 
and kissed his dear friend, who had saved Annie for her 
William. 

After inspecting the large grounds of the former great 
Abbey, and reading the historical importance of this earliest 
Church in Britain, which is now but a memory, they turned 
their attention to the subject of home. Eileen was assured 
that the importance of the subject of church craft now rested 
in the application of Spiritualism to the explanation of re- 
ligion, as taught in the Christian services. Mrs. Oliphant’s 
invitation came to their minds, and William recalled his 
promise to attend service at her Temple in Hampstead. 

Accordingly it was agreed that no better time could be 
chosen than on their return home. So they drove back with 
light hearts. Was not 19 Elliots Grove the home of William 
and Annie now? “Sure,” said Willy, with a bit of a brogue, 
delightful to father ; “it’s me own own colleen that welcomes 
me home.” 

“Aye, you’re the broth of a bhoy that ye are, my Billy 
Boy!” answered Annie, like the true Irish girl that she is. 

“Won’t ye look foine goin’ to market with yer basket on 
your arm the mornin’, Annie ?” 

“Aye, that I wuul, Mister William o’ Number Seven, this 
time for a certainty.” 


X. 


MEDIUMSHIP 

Mrs. Oliphant was a lady of strong individuality. She 
was a close friend of Lady Corrigan, whom she encouraged 
in her Mediumship, realizing that Eileen was a very true type 
of psychic. By this I mean a Medium who gave out only 
what she received, as seen or heard, and without elaboration 
of any kind. The Spirit control knows exactly how much the 
mortal can stand and be benefited by, and so Mrs. Oliphant 
felt that anything more than the true Mediumship was in- 
jurious. 

Therefore Eileen was a welcome addition to Mrs. Oli- 
phant’s Sunday evening services, as she was not averse to giv- 
ing what are known as communications or tests to the con- 
gregation. This to the reader unfamiliar with Spiritualistic 
services, is a great addition to the explanation of the teach- 
ings of the cult. That is, if the Medium can see Spirit forms 
or entities accompanying the members of the audience and 
mention them to the people, which not only gives satisfaction 
to the person, but gives evidence of the survival of Spirit life. 

For example, some mother, burdened with grief, comes to 
the church for consolation and is not turned away comfort- 
less. Mrs. Oliphant announced that the Medium, Madam 
Eileen, will now give communications to the members. She 
rises and says: “I see a child near that lady in black by the 
window. She puts her arms around her neck, saying: ‘Dear 

57 


58 LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 

mother, you are not to grieve for me ; for I am simply fulfill- 
ing my real life. The time was short for me to make proper 
progress on earth and I can both progress and help you, dear 
mother, better than I could have done had I lived there. Do 
not grieve so much, as it prevents me from getting on, and 
also from coming into close touch with you when you try to 
sense me in Spirit, which would console both of us.’ 

“That gentleman at the end of the seat is mediumistic, for 
I see him looking at the little girl Spirit. You can see her, 
can you not? Will you describe her to the audience? Yes, 
that is right — blue eyes and golden hair. She tells me that she 
passed over about eight years of age, last summer, with a 
throat affection. Did she not, madam? You feel comforted 
that you can know your darling girl is able to be with you? 
Now, it is not every one who is so blessed that they can see 
their departed wife, as this gentleman is. He must see also 
the tall spirit gentleman in front, by the lady, his wife. It 
ought to comfort her to know that he is near to her, even 
if she can not even sense him.” 

So Madam Eileen went about among the audience, calling 
attention to the different spirits, who wished to be seen near 
their loving ones. Very many recognised the spirits by their 
descriptions, and were indeed grateful at such evidences of 
spirit survival. 

On their return to Elliots Grove, Annie and William de- 
scribed the service to Mr. Chambers. First the organ was 
playing as the congregation entered, as a sort of welcome — 
“Lead Kindly Light” arranged for the organ. The meeting 
was then opened by prayer, followed by singing. Then fol- 


MEDIUMSHIP 


59 


lowed the reading of the XIVth Chapter of St. John: “Let 
not your heart be troubled,” etc. An innovation was now 
made in the form of music, harp with violin accompaniment, 
taking the place of singing. It was so uplifting that Annie 
burst into tears and was only consoled by William taking her 
hand and later by Mrs. Oliphant’s eloquent sermon. It was 
upon the memorable text of the Xllth Chapter of Corin- 
thians: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would 
not have you ignorant.” It was a masterly sermon and only 
such converse as could proceed out of the mouth of the Spirit 
itself. As indeed, it did ; for she spoke as if entranced, which 
she was. If the mass of the people could receive such truth, 
as sometimes it may be vouchsafed to them, the world would 
be much more perfect. Howbeit, we are progressing, and 
when it is understood that this voice of the Spirit alone can 
reach the religious personages, explaining properly the very 
text of the Bible, and indeed the explanation of the very lan- 
guage therein, and which proceedeth out of the mouths of 
the preachers, we will have reached the Millennium itself. 
For education moves slowly and the comprehension of the 
masses is only gradual. 

Annie said that William drank in every word and she 
would not be surprised if he would become a teacher himself. 
William had indeed been always psychic. He had the faculty 
of intuition which is but another name for mediumistic, 
strongly developed, and had been always puzzled at coinci- 
dences, that is, events occurring which he had had occur in 
his mind’s eye previously, but which had been clairvoyant 
visions. He would often say to himself, when some incident 


6C LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 

had happened, when did I see this place or that thing before? 
When such coincidences occur to anyone, be assured that you 
possess this faculty in a certain degree. And it is a duty to 
cultivate it. If possible, consult a reliable Medium, and per- 
haps sit with her for development. The advantage of sitting 
in classes is that more spirit power is accumulated, thus illus- 
trating the saying of Jesus, that, where two or three are gath- 
ered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 


XI. 


THE BASINETTE 

And now comes William with a book of numbers and 
bothers the life out of the whole lot of them. 

“Why, you can serve everybody up on a platter if you can 
only get their complete names and birthdates. It is a regular 
nuisance, Annie, is it not ? Here are some of our best friends 
that are perfect rotters, according to the book.” 

“Then look out for them,” quietly responded Annie. 

So William applied the test as much as possible and was 
glad of it. If their number wasn’t right, out they went from 
his business acquaintance, and Willy prospered exceedingly, 
during the year following their return home. But of a sud- 
den Annie herself became querulous and impatient and poor 
Willy became so upset that he must needs seek counsel from 
Eileen. 

“I can’t understand it,” he said. “Annie was always so 
even-tempered and practical that I can’t tell what to expect 
from her. She is so distrait and sensitive, that I am con- 
stantly leaving my office and rushing home to see if some dis- 
aster is not impending. Tell me, dear Eileen, where are we 
at ? L^st night she snuggled up to me and wept on my soul- 
der. Have I done anything I ought not to have done or left 

61 


62 LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 

undone things which I ought to have done, and so forth? 
Tell me what is the matter?” 

“Well, Willy, I will; for I think Annie has a secret and 
I would rather she told you herself. But say, Billy Boy, 
haven’t you heard that Dr. Whiteside is quite frequently at 
the house? Why not ask him?” 

“By Jove, I will. Where’s my book of numbers? Why, 
he’s a No. 8. That’s all right, isn’t it?” 

“Yes, I suppose he’ll do.” 

“Do what, you dear old girl?” 

“Ask him, Willy.” 

“By Jove, I will.” 

Good old Whiteside simply roared and Willy sat back in 
his chair and stared. “Are you all going mad?” he exclaimed. 

The old Doctor simply smiled and said quietly : “My dear 
boy, don’t you know?” 

What? You don’t mean to say? That’s it, by Jove! 
I’m the one that’s crazy, bless you, dear old friend. How 
wonderful! Well, lock me up. Here, old boy, is my best 
box of segars. Don’t let anybody know that I’ve gone daffy.” 
And from that time Willy’s solicitude and care of his beauti- 
ful wife was charming to behold. 

“Annie must do this and she mustn’t do that, lest some 
awful injury happens to Annie.” The Goddess was an object 
of worship from that hour forth, and she was the happiest 
little woman in all the world. 

Aunt Eileen and Annie seemed now inseparable. Even in 
Willy’s library they were one day whispering together and 


THE BASINETTE 63 

Willy got his back up, as the saying is, and he expostulated. 

“But it won’t interest you, Willy. What do you know 
about these things? Annie and I are discussing the baby’s 
wardrobe.” 

How perfectly silly ! I happen to know that you can buy 
the whole caboodle at one shot. I saw a perfect outfit yester- 
day and came near buying it— a beautiful blue, thingum bob, 
what do you call it— Basinette ? Yes, that’s the figure.” 

But speaking of baby-clothes, brought the conversation 
around to the new baby’s soul. Was it going to be a brand 
new one created by Annie and William, and would it there- 
fore be a No. 7 soul, or would it be some ambitious soul of 
some re-incarnationist popping in? 

“What gets me is,” said Willy, “how the Spirit World 
can keep track of such a vast number of souls, that is, grant- 
ing that re-incarnation is a fact ? First, with all the millions 
of souls, separated and coming toegether again; and second, 
new souls recently created and to find their soulmates later 
on? Eileen says that she sees clairvoyantly that we are to 
have a little girl baby. That’s easy, for it is simply local, — 
but what wondrous wireless vibrations there must be for 
souls to find their mates in Heaven, that is, unless when a per- 
son dies, their mates must be there to receive them? But 
I say, girls, let’s get Mrs. Oliphant on to this job. She’s a 
regular soul-fiend. Do you believe that she told me that she 
had worked out my vibrations some way, and that I must 
have been a regular old duffer of an antique Prince or perhaps 


&t LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 

a King? And I think it was largely, she said, because my 
traits were such as entitled me to be called a prince of good 
fellows. This I learned was because I had in an unguarded 
moment picked up an old organ and presented it to her 
church, after we returned from our wedding trip. Isn’t it 
enough to set a simpleton off his knut?” exclaimed Willy, 
giabbing Eileen by the elbows and waltzing her around the 
room to Annie’s consternation ; for she had begun to fear that 
he would repeat the game with her, so there would be no 
jealousy, and baby and all would be likely to receive the same 
how-de do! 


XII. 


SPIRITUAL SURVIVAL 

So this charming and friendly life went on for several 
years during which Mr. Number Seven Vibration gradually 
got his bearings and developed into a settled married gentle- 
man. William lost only a little of his buoyancy and became 
more and more psychic under the charm of his beautiful wife 
and the grace of their spiritual little girl. Much confabula- 
tion supervened before her name was actually decided on. 
William settled a part of it by calling her his Rosebud; but 
Annie would not be satisfied unless the name of her revered 
mother was to be incorporated with it. Aunt Eileen alleged 
that they could not do better psychically, as Rose Marjorie 
de Forrest was a happy solution. That is, figurately speaking 
— Rose would equal No. Three and Marjorie No. Eight, 
making Eleven, a full, free, spiritual number; and, if you 
added the eleven made by De Forrest, it equalled twenty- 
two, the supreme number of all completeness. Therefore 
the usual Spiritual Baptism with rare fitness took place and 
Rose progressed wonderfully, with a consuming love for 
flowers, music and all things artistic, absolutely devoted to 
Auntie Ellen, as she called her God-mother Eileen. 

Annie would not have had it otherwise, and was grateful 
for it up to the very day of Eileen’s taking off or passing 
over, as she was fond of expressing the little adventure called 

65 


66 


LADY CORRIGAN’S LOVE MATCH 


death. This occupied Eileen’s attention when Rosie was 
about nine years of age. 

Annie and William were both present, and Eileen begged 
them not to mourn for her, saying that she had had every 
happiness which life could give, even to the love of her chil- 
dren, as she affectionately called Annie and Willy, and their 
lovely flower — the heavenly Rose. 

Moreover, Eileen felt that she should dwell with them, as 
she afterwards did, making their lives psychic and beautiful. 
Scarcely a day passed that did not bring them some reminder 
of Eileen’s presence, in some form, and the chiefest pleasure 
of all their lives was when Eileen would control Annie and 
speak to them in their little circles in the library of an even- 
ing, especially on Sunday. 

Thus it was that Lady Corrigan, a great psychic and lov- 
able soul, piloted her children along the highway of life, and, 
after her own passing over, was still a spirit mother to them 
all. Thus the continuity of life everywhere continues, and 
the realm of love holds us 3s a precious heritage, until we 
ourselves enter the mansions prepared for us. 

One of Eileen’s favorite communications was in regard to 
her reunion with Marjorie, Annie’s mother, in the great 
beyond and the great aid and comfort Marjorie became to 
her; and then the loving reunion, when they both come to 
the children in their circles on Sunday evenings at Elliots 
Grove. So neither William nor Annie, nor indeed little 
Rose, expresses any fear of death; for does it not mean now 
to them the promise of a happy reunion with their loved ones 
in that summerland of love and service? 


PRESS NOTICES 
OF 

OTHER WORKS 

BY 

CHARLES STUART WELLES, M.D. 



OTHER WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR. 


BOHEME. A small collection of Early Poems. By 
Charles Stuart Welles, M.D. G. P. Putnam’s Son, 
New York. 

N. Y. Commercial Advertiser . — “ A charming vein of tenderness 
and pathos, combined with a fastidiousness of expression and 
delicate accuracy of rhythm, characterizes the hook throughout.” 

N. Y. Mail and Express. — “A dainty little volume of love verses. 
The lines beginning * Wherefore I sing,’ by their delicacy and 
grace and the charming turn of the thought, remind one of Robert 
Herrick or Richard Lovelace.” 

N. Y. Daily Graphic. — “ A collection of Mr. Welles’ fugitive 
poems, which form an exquisite and tasteful portfolio of gems. 
The author, who is not unknown to fame, possesses a delicate and 
graceful fancy, which he expresses with sweetness and purity. 
His themes are familiar, but they are rendered with a tenderness, 
grace, and skill which flavours of originality. The book is full of 
promise and shows clearly that the author possesses inspiration of 
no mean order.” 

New York Tribune. — “In ‘BohSme’ we are saluted with the 
perfume of poetry, pleasant from its refined character. Familiar 
images meet us; and familiar fancies, with such variations as 
they generally take in passing through a new mind, seek our ac- 
ceptance. The verse is graceful, often bright and joyous, some- 
times pensive, but never candidly melancholy and never morbid ; 
the metre is very pure and satisfactory, the feeling adequately 
expressed, and the necessary repetitions of customary thought 
made fresh again by the author’s grace and skill.” 


THE LUTE AND LAYS. A recent collection of the 
Poems of Dr. Charles Stuart Welles. Geo. Bell and 
Sons, 4, York Street, Covent Garden, London. The 
Macmillan Company, Fifth Avenue, New York. 

Aberdeen Free Press.— 1 He is unfailingly musical, and the little 
collection contains many examples of undoubted grace and sweet- 
ness.” 

The Outlook. — “ A volume of verse written in an easy and graceful 
way, the touch of tenderness and the touch of grace happily com- 
bined, in many instances.” 

Literature. — “ Peaceful harmonies, old-time memories, and the 
transformation which love works, come when it may, such are the 
pleasant themes which inspire the lute, and the resulting lays are 
all smooth and musical.” 


OTHER WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR. 


Westminster Review. — “Dr. Welles contributes a charming little 
volume of poems. Some of the verses have a rich colouring, 
which reminds us of De Musset. Altogether, it is a book of verses 
which will delight lovers of pure lyrical poetry.” 

Hospital. — “ Here and there are lyrics which possess that in- 
definable touch which differentiates poetry from mere verse. Such 
is the little eight-line, entitled ‘ Roses,’ and in a deeper and 
tenderer strain, this longer one called ‘A Star of Evening.’ ” 

Court Circular. — “The ‘Lute and Lays’ is a charming little 
volume of gems which will find their way to the hearts of all 
lovers of verse. We are pleased 



Queen, has graciously accepted 
work. ” 


Scotsman . — “ The poems are invariably sincere, and nay happily 
things which only poets are allowed to say, dignifying what to 
some may seem a trite and commonplace theme, by thoughts that 
are dignified as well as tender, and lit by many flashes of a pleasant 
fancy.” 

Chicago Record. — “The gracefully turned verses in Dr. Welles’ 
volume show taste, a pleasant fancy, and the true touch of inspir- 
ation. Most of the poems are little lyrics of love or nature 
worship. The author often gives his readers a phrase of delightful 
felicity, and his work is marked by general finish. Some of the 
lesser poems are charmingly conceived and daimily executed.” 

Home Journal . — “The ‘ Lute and Lays ’ is the work of a modern 
troubadour, who chants with pleasing art. Indeed, sincerity and 
fervour are the special merits of the book, which contains not a 
few verses that are poems of general interest. The opening piece, 

‘ The Lute,’ is one of the best efforts of the poet, ‘Lilian’ is a 
lyric with some charming stanzas, and ‘ Twilight ’ has much poetic 
feeling, and is delicately warm in colour and spirit. ” 

Bristol Mercury . — “We can heartily recommend this volume of 
poems to the attention of the reader. Dr. W'elles’ verse is charac- 
terized by sweetness and melody. It has distinction, suggestive- 
ness, charm. We consider that this slim volume entitles him to 
a niche in the Temple of song. His poetic gift may not be a great 
one, but there is true poetry between the eovers of this little book. 
The poem entitled ‘ Twilight ’ evinces the writer’s love of nature, 
and is permeated by a spirit of tender thoughtfulness.” 

Morning Herald.— “ A pretty volume of poems by an American 
doctor, who paints as well as he writes. Many of these love-songs 
are of real poetic beauty, such as one can take up and read again 
and again, longing the while for more. Dr. Welles, if we mistake 
not, has the true poetic gift, and the power to write something 
which will one day bring him a much greater measure of fame than 
he can hope for from such a little volume, excellent and welcome 
as it is. We shall be surprised if we do not hear from him again.” 


OTHER WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR. 


Walsall Advertiser . — “This is a charming little book, through- 
out which is an innocent sweetness and grace which is quite unique 
in this prosaic age. Dr. Welles is a singer who delights in his 
song, has no discordant note, and who is content to take no flights 
beyond his powers. The poems are nearly all short, and are 
chiefly love-ditties, musical and scholarly. The sonnet on The 
Sonnet is admirably conceived and perfectly constructed, according 
to the arbitrary rules of the sonnet, and to a sense of the verbal 
melody which it so remarkably embodies. The rhythm of the verses 
throughout is very pure.” 

Nottingham Guardian . — “ Of the contents it is difficult to select 
the best, all are so fragrant. The poet revels in buoyant songs 
of love and hope, in dainty fancies, linked with the flowers and 
the beautiful things of life. This, for example, is charming : 

‘ The kindly sun beams through the mist 
With features bright, 

As gallantly he stoops to kiss 
The world good-night. ’ 

And in * Roses ’ we have also the touch of delicacy. Though these 
quotations indicate the prevailing sentiment of the book, there is 
diversity within its covers.” 

Bookseller . — “That English lyrics are not wanting in this fag- 
end of the century, is testified by Dr. Welles’ volume, to speak of 
no other witnesses. The notes are struck by one of middle-age, if 
we are to credit the opening piece. Now that youth has gone, he 
does not see less clearly : 

* But rather more that now we know 
That passion does not measure love ; 

For love is light from God above, 

And passion but a voice below.’ 

The remainder of the volume is of the same order, on phases of 
love and nature worship, and expressed in the same scholarly 
fashion.” 

Denver Republican “ The author has not set out to be darkly 
vasiue and mysterious. He sings as one who loves a lover, who 
loves a flower, and who does not let gloom or despondency rest 
lie.kvy on his soul. The poems are happy in thought, and contain 
not a few literary beauties. Some of the book’s charm is caught 
in the following verse : 

* So say not love is lost that lives, 

E’en as a dream of other years ; 

Love is not dead while memory gives 
Us back again its smiles and tears.* 

The author is happy in the touches which he gives his songs of 
nature, and his songs of the flower-garden are dew-fresh in them- 
selves.” 


NOTICES FROM THE AMERICAN PRESS. 


THE ELL WOODS. A Novel. By Charles Stuart 

Welles, M.D. Cloth, 65 ; paper, 2s. 6 d. 

Columbus Journal. — “A surprising work.” 

Boston Morning Post. — “A clear and courageous thinker’* 
views.” 

Los Angeles Times. — “The object is excellent and the tone of the 
book elevated.” 

Minneapolis Tribune. — “ Well written, interesting greatly, the 
theories fascinating.” 

Public Opinion. — “A novel with a very serious purpose — no less 
than the aim to present a new system of social morality.” 

St. Paul Pioneer Press. — “ The broad sanity of the author’s views 
and the logical outcome of his arguments cannot be denied.” 

Seattle Sunday Times. — “A novel of interest. The love story, 
as a whole, is strong and interesting, and is handled in a masterly 
manner.” 

Grand Rapids Press. — “ The subjects taken up cover a somewhat 
extended field, dealing not only with religion and politics, but to a 
certain extent with ethics as well.” 

St. Louis Globe- Democrat. — “Dr. Welles has won a reputation 
for that type of fiction which deals in theories of life, religion, and 
ethics, as well as in love episodes.” 

Detroit Free Press. — “A thoughtful book, which touches on a 
wide range of subjects. He argues his subjects in detail and gives 
reasons for the faith that is in him.” 

Detroit Tribune. — “A curious mixture of novel and essay, 
although the little talks are interspersed through the story in a 
manner that does not detract from its interest.” 

San Francisco Bulletin. — “Is worth serious consideration. ’ It is 
something merely to have written a 1 vel with a high ethical pur- 
pose, and at the same time retained a aegree of interest in its plot.” 

Chicago News. — “The reforms are not of the sort usually ac- 
credited to reformers ; but they are directed against the spirit of 
militarism now so rampant, and cannot fail to do good to the readers 
of the book.” 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin. — “The woman is the central figure, not 
so much because of the story as to illustrate the theory that woman, 
in her marriage relations, is destined to become the saviour of the 
human race.” 


NOTICES FROM THE AMERICAN PRESS. 


Galveston News. — “ The author uses his pretty love story to bring 
before the unthinking public his views on ethical and political sub- 
jects, and interweaves the romantic and didactic in a scholarly and 
interesting manner.” 

Buffalo Evening News. — “ A novel by a physician is almost sure 
to be a problem story. There are views on religion and other sub- 
jects interestingly expounded as the story goes on, the sentiment 
and action being very well handled.” 

Boston Transcript. — “ Reality, romance, and economics are 
curiously blended, but so skilfully that the result is an extremely 
interesting and instructive book. A very pretty love story ; and the 
theories are clearly set forth and original.” 

Buffalo Express. — “In his story Dr. Welles runs the gamut of 
reform from the divorce evil to corrupt politics and an amendment 
to the Constitution, which would secure a less cumbersome 
machinery than the present electoral college.” 

Rocky Mountain News. — “ Dr. Welles gives a high place to the 
arts among the civilizing and humanizing influences. He considers 
that we must look among them for the expounding of the eternal. 
His pages concerning music are deserving of remembrance.” 

St. Louis Christian Advocate. — “ The author is not pleading for 
a fad ; but his purpose is a high and noble one. The story is well 
sustained throughout in the estimate of thoughtful men and by 
those whose thoughts are pure and whose aspirations are exalted.” 

Pittsburg Press. — “A most thoughtful study under the guise of 
a most pleasing work of fiction. The author proposes a new code 
of laws under the social conditions which prevail to-day, that ulti- 
mately a more lofty and purer plane of morality may be evolved in 
society.” 

Pittsburg Chron- Telegraph. — “There is an originality in the 
author’s methods which is bound to impress readers, and the novel 
has the additional merit of being clean, something that cannot be 
said concerning much of the fiction which is at present being offered 
to the reading public.” 

Albany Times- Union. — “ An attractive love story, and brimful of 
the author’s theories on religion, politics, metaphysics, and other 
matters of moment. No individual stands more eager for reform 
than does he, and his active mind is overflowing with suggestions 
for the improvement and elevation of national and home life.” 

Springfield Union. — “Out of the ordinary in fiction and a work 
of merit. Weighty matters are discussed and Dr. Welles has pro- 
duced a work which ought to set people thinking, while at the same 
time he entertains them with a delightful love story of English social 
life. The writer has high ideals and a vision of the Millennium.” 


NOTICES FROM THE ENGLISH PRESS. 


Western Mail. — “ It is a remarkable book in many respects, and 
deserves a cordial reception from the reformer.” 

Northern Whig. — “No one will deny this author a high ethical 
purpose and a cultured and scholarly style, whether his subject be 
forgotten philosophies or the financial question.” 

Literary World. — “This scholarly and interesting book — an in- 
tellectual treat ! The author’s idea of thus reaching the unthinking 
public is, in a sense, justifiable ; for big questions are dealt with in 
a most able manner.” 

Scotsman. — “‘The Ell woods’ has a high moral tone throughout 
— but the author is not always didactic, and he can tell a pretty 
love story. Most of the characters, indeed, in Dr. Welles’s pages, 
are drawn with life-like touch.” 

Liverpool Courier. — “Dr. Welles writes with great force and 
clearness and also with a wide knowledge of the topics he discusses. 
Indeed, some of his arguments on social and economic questions are 
luminous and instructive ; and they are the more attractive from 
their distinct originality. ” 

Aberdeen Free Press. — “‘The Ellwoods’ has all the elements 
which go to constitute a good story. It has variety of character and 
picturesqueness of well-defined personalities. It has action and 
reaction and progresses through antagonisms, with convergence of 
action towards a definite and desirable end.” 

Calcutta Englishman. — “ Under the disguise of fiction the learned 
author has introduced into the ‘ The Elwoods’ various social, legal and 
religious theories. The flippant will be bored with this scholarly 
story, but if the thoughtful pass it by as a mere novel, they will 
miss an intellectual treat. The complex conditions that surround us 
are admirably discussed, and, when necessary, fearlessly criticised : 
and if the world could be re-constructed on the lines suggested by 
the writer, it would certainly be a more pleasant place to live in. 
Dr. Welles, who is known to lovers of poetry as a delicate and 
graceful versifier, has now appealed to a larger public, and we must 
trust not altogether in vain.” 

Liverpool Mercury. — “Dr. Welles has, at all events, the courage 
of his convictions. And they are so forcibly put and* so trenchantly 
advanced, that they invariably stimulate thought. Once the ob- 
structions to reform are removed, he believes ‘ that the purification 
of society and the revival of learning will ensue ; that those virtues 
and graces which animated the ancients will be revived.’ The 
Millennium ! Let it be said again, that the tenets which Dr. Welles 
advances are worthy the respect and scrutiny of thinking men. All 
the opinions are argued out in ample detail, and the views advanced 
resolutely and without heat of expression. One lays the book aside 
with the conviction that Dr. Welles has no worse purpose to serve 
than that of his day and generation.” 


NOTICES FROM THE COLONIAL PRESS. 

South African Review. — “Dr. Welles has certainly written a 
thought-provoking book, and those who are interested in social 
questions will find many suggestions and ideas over which to ponder. 
Though Dr. Welles is an original thinker and propounds sentiments 
which are socially revolutionary, he maintains a high moral tone 
throughout the book. As the story progresses, the sociological dis- 
cussions fall into the background, and the love story, which is of 
an unusual type, engrosses the reader. Dr. Welles suggests that 
Christianity is not fully understood, and gives symbolic interpre- 
tations to many parts of Scripture, savouring somewhat of Sweden- 
borgianism. He has the critical faculty well developed, and finds 
not a little to condemn in the United States Government, as well 
as elsewhere. The characters in the story are well depicted, and 
they are environed in the picturesque scenery of the North Coast of 
Devonshire. The book has had a considerable vogue in America, 
and is not unlikely to attract a large class of readers here.” 

Adelaide Advertiser. — “Dr. Welles writes perhaps most feelingly 
on the subject of the status of women, and regrets that both in 
England and, generally speaking, in America, so little has been 
done to raise it. The restriction of the franchise to men, he con- 
siders not merely an obstruction to the advancement of, but a grave 
injustice to, the other sex, who, without the privileges, are subject 
to all liabilities of citizenship. On the great marriage question, the 
author’s views are in a high degree revolutionary, as they are cer- 
tainly novel. He would maintain the legal contract, but would, 
apparently, allow the individual a choice between monogamy and 
polygamy. He attributes much of the * social evil ’ to the incon- 
sistency of the law, which prohibits bigamy, but allows a man to 
cohabit with two or more women, as long as he does not confer the 
status of a wife on more than one. What the law should be, how- 
ever, the author regards as a minor question. The great thing is to 
see that it is properly enforced. The enforcement of the law being 
everything, it becomes a matter of importance to ascertain whether 
the law is one that can be enforced, and it is here that monogamy 
in the author’s opinion, has failed. Many a man who holds his head 
high in society is really living in a state of bigamy, or even poly- 
gamy, though he has one recognized wife. The law, though it 
throws its aegis over one family only, allows him to have as many 
families as he chooses, and at his death, instead of giving the 
possibly helpless offspring of his illicit unions a claim upon his 
estate, it throws upon the ordinary taxpayer the burden of their 
maintenance. Economic independence, which the silent but still 
visible changes in modern society are tending more and more to 
confer upon women, may remove the poverty which so frequently 
impels women to make a sacrifice of their virtue, but the author 
looks for another remedy. Either, he says, enforce monogamy by 
making adultery punishable, as we now make bigamy and poly- 
gamy, or confer on every concubine having a child the status of a 
legal wife, or at least legitimatize the child. When a man knows 
that he will be legally responsible for the proper maintenance of 
every woman he treats as a wife, and that he must legitimatize her 
children, he will take good care, the author believes, not to allow 
his passions to stray over too wide a field.” 


OTHER WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR. 


THE MILLENNIUM ; and the CONSTITUTION OF 
THE UNITED STATES OF THE WORLD. In 
pamphlet form, price 6d. Can be obtained from L. N. 
Fowler & Co., Ludgate Circus, London, E.C. 

Editorial , The Evening Star (Washington ). — “A small pamphlet 
has just made its modest appearance upon a subject that warrants 
attention at this particular juncture of national and international 
affairs. This pamphlet is a draft of ‘The Constitution of the 
United States of the World,’ the work of Charles Stuart Welles, 
who is also author of numerous other writings on legal, medical, 
and international questions. No word of explanation appears with 
this publication, which is a project for the unification of all the 
nations of this world upon a plan of government based upon that of 
the United States of America. It is the most ambitious scheme for 
universal peace yet devised in serious intent. That it is serious 
cannot, of course, be doubted for a moment. The author’s project 
takes this form of a * constitution ’ doubtless for the reason that it 
explains the scope and methods of his scheme as well as and perhaps 
better than many columns of argumentation. 

“Briefly stated, the purpose appears to be to create a world- 
government that shall bear to the individual nations of the earth 
about the same relation as the federal government of this republic 
bears to the states of the Union. There is no evident purpose to 
destroy the integrity of the nations as they exist. It goes further 
than do most others, however, in that it outlines a definite constitu- 
tion, such as its predecessors have lacked. They have been delight- 
fully nebulous, mere dreams of the gentlest of people who abhor 
war and fail to see its necessity under any circumstances. This is 
business-like, concise, presented without argument and precise in 
its proposals. The formation of this grand federation of nations 
would, beyond a doubt, mark the millennium, but it is only too 
plain that the world is not yet ripe for the millennium. The Con- 
gress proposed by the constitution now in view might pass laws by 
the hundred for the moral elevation of mankind, but without a 
great army of agents for their execution, these laws would be as 
naught. The peculiar problems presented in this country at times 
by reason of the tendency toward a demand for the maintenance 
of the rights of the state regardless of the obligations of the Union 
and the demand for a central supervision, may be regarded as 
faintly foreshadowing the complex conditions that would surround 
an organization such as is proposed by the author of this constitu- 
tion.” 

THE STILL, SMALL VOICE : a Study of Mediums and 
Prophecies. Price Is. net. Published by L. N. 
Fowler & Co., Ludgate Circus, London, E.C., from 
whom all other works of Dr. Charles Stuart Welles 
can be obtained. 









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